The fortunes of the wool market are tied to our trade
partners, and from late last week the market’s momentum looked threatened by
news out of the US. An appreciation in
the Australian dollar midweek after US inflation data showed improvement would
typically impact affordability from a buyer’s perspective. Fortunately for
sellers this week, Chinese demand was heightened and a reduced offering meant
the fundamentals were strong enough to overcome exchange rate movements.
The result was all Merino categories improving and a 23ȼ
increase in the Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) to sit at 1151 ȼ/kg. In US
dollar terms the EMI finished at 748 ȼ/kg, 3.4% higher week on week. Outside of the previously mentioned drivers,
the national offering ended up 5k bales lower than initial estimates last week
and this supply-side relief likely assisted as the pass-in rate nationally was
down to 5.7%. 37,926 bales were sold
this week nationally which was just marginally below the weekly seasonal
average of 38,903.
In Sydney, 18.5MPG rose 54ȼ to 1498ȼ/kg and 17MPG increased 40ȼ to 1747ȼ/kg. Further south to Melbourne, demand was also strong, as 17MPG
jumped 51 ȼ to 1736 ȼ/kg and 18.5MPG jumped 41ȼ to 1487 ȼ/kg. The Western Market Indicator (WMI) rose 27ȼ
to 1294ȼ/kg after another strong week.
Crossbred wool did not see the same bump this week, with
Melbourne 26MPG losing 9ȼ to 571 ȼ/kg. As Investigated this week by Andrew Woods,
Crossbred wool’s seasonal proportion of Australian auction volumes is at its
smallest in September (which spurred on the most recent rally in pricing) and
as we approach Summer, supply will be a dampener on crossbred prices through to
the next Australian autumn.
Chinese demand outweighs appreciating dollar
The result was all Merino categories improving and a 23ȼ increase in the Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) to sit at 1151 ȼ/kg. In US dollar terms the EMI finished at 748 ȼ/kg, 3.4% higher week on week. Outside of the previously mentioned drivers, the national offering ended up 5k bales lower than initial estimates last week and this supply-side relief likely assisted as the pass-in rate nationally was down to 5.7%. 37,926 bales were sold this week nationally which was just marginally below the weekly seasonal average of 38,903.
In Sydney, 18.5MPG rose 54ȼ to 1498ȼ/kg and 17MPG increased 40ȼ to 1747ȼ/kg. Further south to Melbourne, demand was also strong, as 17MPG jumped 51 ȼ to 1736 ȼ/kg and 18.5MPG jumped 41ȼ to 1487 ȼ/kg. The Western Market Indicator (WMI) rose 27ȼ to 1294ȼ/kg after another strong week.
Crossbred wool did not see the same bump this week, with Melbourne 26MPG losing 9ȼ to 571 ȼ/kg. As Investigated this week by Andrew Woods, Crossbred wool’s seasonal proportion of Australian auction volumes is at its smallest in September (which spurred on the most recent rally in pricing) and as we approach Summer, supply will be a dampener on crossbred prices through to the next Australian autumn.
Next week
Next week’s forecast offering is again expected to be around 45k bales nationally which would be a stark contrast to what markets typically handle this time of year (Figure 2). If the 45K offering eventuates then it will be an interesting test of demand. All three centres will be selling Tuesday and Wednesday.
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Data sources: AWEX| Mecardo
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